Thursday, April 8, 2010

The Liverpool Dress

It's not enough that I have made two tunics from this pattern, I decided to make the short dress as well! Instead of the three-quarter sleeves, I made the elbow length:
As I did with the last version, I shortened the back ties by five inches:
I also sewed the side seams at three-eights of an inch, rather than the half inch required by the instructions. This gave me an extra half inch of room all around, and while I didn't need that half inch in the waist or hips, it has made the bust area fit perfectly.
The funnest part of the dress was deciding how to lay it out. I used a batik quilt backing I got at the Mid Atlantic Quilt Show for $ 37, which had a border along each edge with solid black in the middle. I decided to lay out my pattern so that the top/bust area was the black, and the dress would get progressivly lighter as it went towards the hem. I used mostly black for the front placket, and I used the very edge of the border as the sleeve cuffs. This is what I had left after cutting out:

Still enough left over for a skirt! (But that is another day - maybe even another year!) I wore this dress Good Friday, and it doesn't wrinkle and it is extra cool. Have I mentioned I love this pattern? I still want to make one more version: the long dress version with no sleeves for summer. But I have decided it is time to take a break from this pattern and do something else. But I highly recommend it to others!

8 comments:

Vicki W said...

Fabulous!

gwensews said...

I like how you laid out the pattern for the border print. I love border prints, and they are difficult to find. Nice sewing!

Angela said...

Love what you did with this dress. The fabric is fabulous.

Kitty Couture said...

Wow, WOW! This looks incredibly couture. Wonderful use of the print.

Summerset said...

Love it - you've made a great use of the print, plus you have extra for something else!

Audrey said...

Beautiful use of a border print. I love them, but when it comes to making something out of them, my creative ideas freeze up. Did you bring the dress to show n tell on Sat? I hope not as I missed the meeting and I would really like to see it in person. This pattern is another winner. I anticipate you will successfully "work it" to generate a variety of wonderful garments; something you do so well.

Mary Johnson said...

This looks amazing, I can't believe you made it from that back.

Laura said...

I know you made this ages ago, but you did a really good job utilizing the border print. I love it on you, and the two tunics as well. I wonder if you still wear them?